Tongue Buckler - Imperial Red Ale - Ballast Point Brewing Company

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into tulip

Pours a clouded burgundy and copper color with some reddish tones. A layering of beige head rests on top, dissolving slowly in to patchy, spotted lacing on the glass.

Bitter hops and pine in the nose with some resin and boozy warmth. Bready caramel and roasted malts with a light dash of citrus.

Intensely bitter right up front with an avalanche of piny, resin-soaked hops. Notes of citrus peel and grapefruit with pith and abrasive bitterness. Roasted malts, bread crust and caramel in the backbone, which attempts to temper the heavy duty hop attack. Finishes with a long, lingering bitterness along with a punch of warming booze.

Fuller medium body, well carbonated, dry and sticky on the tongue. This is borderline over the top, but I still enjoyed the intensely bitter profile. If the booze was turned down a notch, it might make this a little easier to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 11:11:14 | More by xnicknj

chippo33

Vermont

2.25/5  rDev -42.7%

05-23-2013 04:32:31 | More by chippo33

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

05-23-2013 01:14:47 | More by mikeincharleston

jakecattleco

California

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-21-2013 19:21:19 | More by jakecattleco

jplopez21

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-17-2013 18:31:51 | More by jplopez21

Zbeetleman

California

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-15-2013 06:07:55 | More by Zbeetleman

Absolut

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-14-2013 14:40:05 | More by Absolut

DTown

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-13-2013 01:32:06 | More by DTown

ferrari29

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-12-2013 23:40:44 | More by ferrari29

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-12-2013 04:12:47 | More by MrMcGibblets

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-11-2013 03:33:14 | More by ChugginOil

Kubrickx

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-09-2013 22:08:07 | More by Kubrickx

blknikon

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-07-2013 22:47:11 | More by blknikon

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

05-05-2013 10:17:50 | More by williamjbauer

BYOFB

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-03-2013 04:39:15 | More by BYOFB

bendern

Florida

3.1/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

22oz bottle into a tulip.

Bottle stated best by 08/16/13, had on 4/21/13.

Appearance - Very hazy, opaque dark copper. Around two and a half fingers of beige head with a gentle pour. Head dissipated fairly quickly, but left a lasting layer throughout the rest of the glass. Minor lacing.

Aroma - Malts, caramel, pine hops, biscuit and other bready smells.

Taste - Pine hops, sweet malts, caramel. Definitely taste more of the malt than the hops. The alcohol is not hidden well, especially in the finish. Alcohol warmth throughout. Drinks like a barley wine, which is a style I don't care for.

Mouthfeel - Full bodied. High carbonation.

Overall - Not a bad beer by any means, but nothing I'd particularly care to pick up again. Tastes more like a barley wine than a red ale. Good to try once. Not terribly impressed, especially considering the typical quality that Ballast Point puts out.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 18:38:25 | More by bendern

Not_John_Wayne

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Nice coloration. Sriracha brings out the sweetness quite a bit. Good head if all you care about is presentation and bouquet.
Flavor is maltier than I want in any Imperial Amber. I'm eating a biscuit that has absorbed all my hops.

I would never drink this beer again unless someone bought it for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:16:43 | More by Not_John_Wayne

InlandTaipan

California

3.43/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured and drank on 4/17/2013

Bottled dated best by 3/23/13

A: Beer poured a hazy reddish mahogany. Off-white head was not long lasting and left minor lacing.

S: Aroma is of figs, caramel, butter (Diacetyl), fusel alcohol, pine, worty.

T: Flavor is caramelized malts, lingering punchy hop bitterness, and alcohol.

M: Velvety, thick. A lot of sugar so your lip sticks to the glass with each sip (Not sure if I like that)

O: An interesting take on an imperial Red Ale. I really enjoy Ballast Point's beers, but I feel this one neglects some of the balance that defines the great beers they make. I would still try it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:35:42 | More by InlandTaipan

ChumleyX

California

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

04-06-2013 19:06:29 | More by ChumleyX

beercanman

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-05-2013 21:47:01 | More by beercanman

BJasny

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-02-2013 03:08:36 | More by BJasny

gshackles

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-01-2013 00:26:23 | More by gshackles

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brown to amber. Darker in color with a slightly cloudy look. Healthy head - at least a finger and quality lacing. Smell is dominated by a great hop aroma and slightly balanced with some malts. Taste is good with malt and candimsugar more present with the hops some hidden well. Spicy. Good.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 00:40:58 | More by Oakenator

CasanovaCummins

Nevada

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-23-2013 04:33:30 | More by CasanovaCummins

Teddy-Pickles

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-22-2013 23:04:39 | More by Teddy-Pickles